This week's smiles....week 406

 I've had another week with virtually no work so I've enjoyed filling my time making Luna Lapin's friends and making their tiny clothes....check out the post below if you'd like to see the latest.

I've been out in the garden where there are signs of life springing up everywhere so I snappy a few photos for you...

Although everywhere is rather wet and mucky from being under a blanket of snow for several days but there are bulbs shooting up through the earth everywhere.  This always makes me smile but more so this year....Spring is on it's way wahooooooo. 

Home schooling continues for all our Grandchildren...everything from designing an Anglo Saxon village map so science experiments to see the effects of different liquids on egg shells.

It's hard work home schooling 3 different aged children all doing different lessons and working full time to run a busy printing business too but Amy is doing a great job.....everything from studying Islam and building a space rover to a full day of on line lessons for Phoebe including English, Maths, Spanish, Geography etc etc.

Theo has had busy days too...building a castle, making chain linked snowmen and painting snow out on his builders tray.

We had a good covering of snow at the weekend so I was sent lots of photos of the children building snowmen and having fun in the snow.

Finally here's a few funnies to make you smile....

I haven't got to this stage yet but it did make me smile.

Here's one for all the home schooling parents when exhaustion sets in. :-)

I hope you have enjoyed my smiles for this week and will share your smiles by linking up below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Yes, another week has flown by and here we are at my favourite day of the week when we share our desks and what we have been busy with over the last week with our creative friends from all around the world...if you want to know more then pop over to The Stamping Ground where our wonderful Queen of snoop, Julia, will have details of how you can join in the fun.

Right I will get straight down to what's on my desk today.  

As this is the only work I have had all week I have been doing lots more sewing for pleasure.

This little Memory Elephant has gone to his new home near Welshpool now.

Meet Freddie Badger.  I've made him a smart grandad style shirt and he is now wearing the dungarees you saw Reynard Fox wearing last week because....

....Reynard Fox is now wearing a rather smart pair of cord breeches and I have a shirt all ready cut out for him so may well be making that this morning.

Meet Hugh Dog....no clothes as yet but he will get some.  He was really tricky to make...I actually felt a degree in sewing was needed to get him to look right :-)

Finally [for today at least] meet Daisy sheep.  She was so much fun to make....I'm thinking of making wigs like this for all that need them :-)

I'm having so much fun making Luna Lapin's friends and am really glad to have them to keep me smiling. Phoebe [my eldest granddaughter] What'sApps me every night and loves to see what I'm making next...she's my driving force :-)

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 405

 We've got through another week of lockdown and I'm still smiling....I hope you are too.

There are signs of Spring popping up in every corner of our garden and that is definitely something to smile about....I love Spring.

I've had flowers through the post this week and that really made me smile.  I love freesias especially and even had them in my Wedding bouquet a few years back.

Life in lockdown for the family is far from easy when homeschooling has to be fitted in with full time work but I am really loving the photos I am being sent....This is my baby boy with his baby boy :-)

And finally here's a few of the funnies that have had me chuckling this week...I hope they will make you smile too.

I hope you are all keeping busy doing things you enjoy and are keeping safe and well.  I'm sure we can all see the light in the tunnel now so just keep smiling and we will get there.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

Another week of lockdown has passed....we will get there folks.

I've had no sewing for customers this week so have been enjoying lots of sewing for pleasure time.  

Thanks must go to Lynn Holland for her inspiration with my Clementine Cat last week.  She suggested I made a floaty dress for her so I made her a fully lined one with a lace underskirt like Lynn often wears....and I really love the result.

I was waiting for some lace to arrive last week to trim up some pretty pants for Wilhelmina and Clementine ....I like my girls to maintain their modesty  :-)  Of course they both have tails so I designed them both some with holes in the back for their tails to go through.....they couldn't wait to show you.

My little family has grown too this week as I've now finished Reynard Fox.  His tail was supposed to be attached on a button so it could remove when dressed but I decided to sew it in place and adjust the clothing accordingly ....he's rather lovely don't you think?

Of course it's rather chilly at the moment so I quickly run him up a pair of dungarees on Monday and he's now sat waiting for me to make him a shirt to go under it....I really love all the details in the making of each garment.  The dungarees are double stitched down the side seams and the pocket details are lovely...the back pockets are stitched with details just like a proper pair of jeans and the front bib pocket even has a little side pocket for his pencil to go in [if only I had a pencil that small].

When I'm sat hand sewing in the sitting room all my bits keep dropping on the floor so this week this lovely new lap table arrived and it's simply perfect for the job....it is adjustable so will also go over a bed if ever needed so will always be useful....as you can see my little partner in crime is never far from me. If she can't get upside me on my chair when I'm sewing she sits at my feet :-)

You can also see our latest jigsaw on the table in the background....I think this is the 8th we have done now :-)

I hope you are all finding plenty to keep you busy while we wait out this lockdown safely.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles ....week 404

Here we are at another round up of the week's smiles.  It's been another week of homeschooling for our families and although life gets rather busy at times I have to say I'm very proud of them coping with it all. 

They all enjoyed a bit of snow fun at the weekend...

 I screen shot this photo from a video Amy sent me of her children sledging down their field at top speed....a lot of fun was had by all.  They are so lucky to have a safe field that they can enjoy all weathers.

The twins found some snow to have fun on their new snow scooters.  I'm thrilled that they all enjoy the fresh air when they can.

Other than that I'm sorry to say I have no more snaps to share but I have found some funnies to make you smile.  I hope none offend but they did make me giggle.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you are all coping and managing to find plenty to keep you busy at home.

Stay safe and keep smiling my friends.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 These weeks are really flying by aren't they?  I have lots to share with you so I will do my best to keep it brief.

I can now share with you the last [10th] Luna lapin I made for Michelle's birthday [which was on 7th].  I made this Luna lapin during the first lockdown so had plenty of time to make her the patchwork scarf to match....isn't she lovely?

I spent a lovely morning this week making Wilhelmina a beautiful pintucked top to go under her pinafore. The clothes are just like miniature versions of proper clothes...only very small and fiddly of course.  The top has 6 tiny pintucks down the front and has tiny facings around the neck too.

She just needs some pants now but I'm waiting for a delivery of lace before I make them :-)

I've now finished Clementine Cat but now she's finished I can't decide whether she looks more like a boy so am a little undecided as to what clothes to make....what do you think?

On my desk today is Reynard Fox in the making....I'm really loving making all these characters.

My last share this week is this gorgeous book my hubby found and ordered for me....you may find new characters sitting on my desk some time soon :-)

At least I'm being kept busy during this lockdown eh?  What are you all finding to keep you out of mischief? 

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...week 403

 Here we are back in lockdown so I feel searching out a few smiles is even more important now.  I hope you are all keeping safe and doing your best to keep the Covid numbers down. This virus is doing it's best to stop us from smiling so we need to help and support each other during this difficult time.  If anyone is in need of a chat  I'm always here for you all so please just shout.

On to what has made me smile this week...

This is what home schooling looks like when you have 3 children all at different ages.  Phoebe has to have a laptop, and iPad and a phone available for use as she is having full days of school lessons as she is secondary school.  The other two also have lessons to do but of course both are in different classes.  As well as supporting all three Amy is also working from home to do the artwork and office work for their printing business....it's not easy is it?

Shell is now thankfully much better after her long Covid and is now back teaching.  The twins can go into their school on the days when she's teaching but of course have to be home schooled on the days she's at home plus of course she has her lesson planning and everything else to do.

Here she is showing me the face visor she has to wear at work as the Covid has left her rather claustrophobic and breathless when wearing a face mask.

It was her 37th Birthday yesterday....where do the years go?  It only seems 5 minutes since she was a tiny baby lying by me in a hospital cot. :-)

Shell's dog Jet is fashioning a t shirt this week following her surgery to neuter her....so much better than having to wear a collar of shame don't you think?

I have also got a few funnies I've seen on Facebook to share with you this week....I hope none offend.

I'm sure many can relate to this one.

I guess some jobs just can't be done from home.

I can def relate to this one :-)

I don't have a white orchid but I'd rather like one ;-)

I hope these have made you smile and you will now share your smiles with us.  Stay well and safe my friends.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Happy New Year to you all.  Christmas came and went and although it was rather different we still managed to enjoy it as I hope you all did too.  I have enjoyed a break from work and actually start back today although, of course with the new lockdown I won't be able to work as normal yet a while.  I do have orders for 2 Memory bears and 1 Memory elephant plus I have a nurse needing 2 dresses shortening and another customer needing a new zip in her winter coat.  I will be operating on a drop and collect or postage service so hopefully I will get a few jobs to keep me out of mischief.

On my desk today is my sewing for pleasure...

I've now finished Wilhelmina Wood Mouse...she was really lovely to make and even has a tail and proper whiskers.

So far I've made her a pretty wrap around pinafore dress and I've ordered some pretty white fabric to make her a blouse/top out of.[because of course I didn't have the right fabric :-)].

I've made a start with Clementine Cat so I have something to hand stitch while I'm watching the telly in the evenings ...the instructions to make her head were really challenging and I'm really glad I'm an experienced sewer.

I hope you are all able to keep busy and creative to help us get through this next lockdown but if any of you are struggling and need a chat then please give me a shout.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...week 402

 As I was missing last week I thought I'd better make an effort to round 2020 off by writing a quick happy post....it's been a difficult year for so many that I'm sure we will all be glad to see the end of it and will all be hoping this new year will bring happier times.

So let's start by wishing a very Happy New Year to you all. 

If you read my post on Wednesday you will know that I am suffering from the side effects of my new diabetic injections.  I've been tolerating the once weekly 0.25mg dose for the last month but on Monday I had my first 0.5 [double] dose and have been feeling pretty rough since.  I have contacted my diabetic nurse who spoke to my hospital diabetic Dr and I have now stopped the injections....only problem is each one lasts a week so it wont wear off until the weekend....I can't wait to feel better.

I'm going to quickly share a few photos of the grandchildren from over Christmas.  We have been lucky enough to see them all, if only briefly to exchange presents.  Apart from that we have enjoyed a quiet time just the two of us....not the norm but what must be must be and thankfully we have steered clear of the virus up til now.  Hopefully the new injections will improve the situation for us all....and soon.

Amy sent me these photos on Christmas morning....I'm not sure who enjoys Christmas more... the children or their mum.  

Lexi and Sam wrapped up warm and enjoyed some fresh air while walking their dog.

Gina sent me the collage she had made of all Theo's Christmases.....oh how he's grown and doesn't time fly?...he will be starting school in September and that will come round far too quickly now.

That's all I have to share with you today.  I hope you will all keep safe and well and we can all get back to a nearer normal life very soon.

Hugs,

Annie x